GHEC seeks board member

November 15, 2013

GRANADA - The Granada-Huntley-East Chain School Board will have an opening for a new member on Jan. 1. Ken Petrowiak submitted his resignation Thursday.

Petrowiak stated other commitments are not allowing him to give the proper time and attention to his school board duties. His fellow board members jokingly questioned if they could refuse his request, but did accept his resignation, effective Dec. 31.

Petrowiak has served on the board for 10 years.

Dr. Steve Heyd, GHEC superintendent, said the board will appoint a new member at its December meeting to serve until the next election, which is November 2014.

Turning to another matter, Heyd notified the board of the purchase of a "stair climber" for the East Chain school. Calling the unit a "very, very neat product" with a "forklift concept," the climber can be used to move wheelchairs up and down steps.

Installing a ramp at the school would have required major renovations because of narrow stairs, so the climber is a better option.

Its $4,200 cost will be reimbursed "to a degree" by special education funds, Heyd said.

In other business, the superintendent updated the board on the roof project at the Granada school.

"Some vendors say repair, some say replace," said Heyd, adding that further evaluation is needed.

Stacy Childers, assistant vice president of Springsted, the district's financial adviser, offered the board a trio of options to finance the roof repair or replacement. She proposed school building bonds or an operating referendum, each generating $540,000, or capital facilities bonds, generating $380,000, explaining the positives and negatives of each financing method.

"This is just a starting point," she told the board.

In other business Thursday, the board:

o Approved the winter coaching positions for the 2013-14 year. For girls basketball, Rick Uttech will be head coach; Tim Pytleski, assistant coach; Brian Petrowiak, volunteer coach; and Melissa Engel, junior high coach. Scott Chirpich will serve as head coach for boys basketball, with Jayden Garlick as volunteer coach. Assistant coach Bill Klusmeier was approved at the September board meeting, and the junior high coach is yet to be determined.

o Approved an agreement with Truman Public Schools to enter into a joint relationship for junior high boys and girls basketball for the 2013-14 school year.

o Awarded two snow removal bids, pending proof of insurance. Dale Jensen will continue to clear the snow at the East Chain school at $80 per hour, while Ray Buckmeier was hired to clear the Granada site at $85 per hour.